To ask the Minister of Health what investment she will provide for health and social services within the new homelessness strategy.

The statutory duty to take the homelessness strategy into account in the implementation of my Department’s functions is one I take very seriously. Health and social care is available on the basis of clinical need, to everyone equally, including homeless people and rough sleepers. Care and treatment are delivered in the appropriate primary, community and secondary settings when required. All users of the Health and Social Care service therefore benefit from the range of investment applied.

My Department’s inputs to the new homelessness strategy are still under consideration. Key areas for consideration include developing arrangements to ensure that people discharged from hospital who do not have access to accommodation are sign-posted effectively to existing services; and assessing the services available in relation to alcohol and drug early intervention, harm reduction and treatment and support services for homeless people with complex needs.

At present, I consider that achieving improvements in these areas is a matter of service reform, with a focus on spending existing allocations more effectively, rather than a need for additional investment, but I will be happy to look at this again following the next meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Rough Sleeping and Homelessness, to be convened shortly by the Minister for Communities.